Michael,

Due to the industry I'm in, I don't keep inventory and don't ship products to my customers (#3 and #4).

When someone wants custom printed ink pens, T-shirts, coffee mugs, umbrellas, etc, the order and artwork are emailed to the supplier, who imprints the blank goods and ships direct to the buyer.

It'd be pointless for me to stock the products, or to have Bic in Florida ship the finished order to me in Louisiana, for me to forward to my customer in VA, IA, or CA.

Different businesses have different business models - Mine is one of the exceptions.

Dennis Bevers